We don't have the cap space to sign a major free agent next season. I know people don't seem to believe that, but it's not going to happen. The Rasheed and BBD deals should have shut the door on any speculation about us being involved in the free agent market.
What if PP declined his player option, and resigned for less money?
Right now, we have the following salaries guaranteed for next season:
KG: $18,832,044
Rasheed: $6,322,320
Perk: $4,890,208
BBD: $3,250,000 (roughly)
That adds up to $30.4 million. To that, we need to add a $6.3 million "cap hold" for Rajon Rondo. That brings us up to $36.7 million, for five players. There's an additional roster hold of roughly $450k for each player on the roster below 12, which means we have to add an additional $3.2 million in salary. That brings us up to $39.9 million.
Right now, the salary cap for next season is projected to be between $50.4 million and $53.6. That means that, if Pierce opts out, we'll have between $10.5 million and $13.7 million to spend on free agents.
Even on the high side, $13.7 million isn't enough to sign a max free agent, and that's assuming that we resign Pierce for the minimum and renounce Ray Allen, Marquis Daniels, Eddie House, Bill Walker, J.R. Giddens, and all of our other free agents, as well as renouncing our right to use the MLE next season.
In other words, we don't have any cap room.
